Syrian PM escapes attempt to assassinate him in attack
Source: Agencies |
April 30, 2013, Tuesday
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SYRIA'S prime minister escaped an assassination attempt yesterday when a bomb went off near his convoy in Damascus, state media reported, the latest attack targeting a top official in President Bashar Assad's regime.
Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi was unhurt in the bombing in the capital's western neighborhood of Mazzeh, state TV said. The TV showed footage of heavily damaged cars and debris in the area as firefighters fought to extinguish a large blaze set off by the explosion.
The state SANA news agency said one person was killed and several were hurt in the blast.
The daring attack in the upscale neighborhood, which is home to many embassies and government officials, was another blow to the regime, exposing its vulnerability in the very seat of Assad's powerbase.
Syria's conflict started with largely peaceful anti-government protests in March 2011 but eventually turned into a civil war that has so far killed more than 70,000 people, according to the United Nations.
A Syrian government official said that an improvised explosive device was placed under a car that was parked in the area and was detonated as al-Halqi's car drove by.
The state-run Al-Ikhbariya station said al-Halqi went into a regular weekly meeting with an economic committee straight after the bombing and showed him sitting around a table in a room with several other officials.
Al-Halqi condemned the blast, SANA said, adding that the attempt exposes how armed groups "are bankrupt" after the latest advances made by Syrian troops around the country.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombing killed al-Halqi's bodyguard and that one of his drivers was in critical condition.
Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi was unhurt in the bombing in the capital's western neighborhood of Mazzeh, state TV said. The TV showed footage of heavily damaged cars and debris in the area as firefighters fought to extinguish a large blaze set off by the explosion.
The state SANA news agency said one person was killed and several were hurt in the blast.
The daring attack in the upscale neighborhood, which is home to many embassies and government officials, was another blow to the regime, exposing its vulnerability in the very seat of Assad's powerbase.
Syria's conflict started with largely peaceful anti-government protests in March 2011 but eventually turned into a civil war that has so far killed more than 70,000 people, according to the United Nations.
A Syrian government official said that an improvised explosive device was placed under a car that was parked in the area and was detonated as al-Halqi's car drove by.
The state-run Al-Ikhbariya station said al-Halqi went into a regular weekly meeting with an economic committee straight after the bombing and showed him sitting around a table in a room with several other officials.
Al-Halqi condemned the blast, SANA said, adding that the attempt exposes how armed groups "are bankrupt" after the latest advances made by Syrian troops around the country.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombing killed al-Halqi's bodyguard and that one of his drivers was in critical condition.
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